Regarding the ongoing discussion of Ipheion vs. Tristagma. I'll be as free
with my opinion as others. Regarding the yellow species, sometimes

as Ipheion, I have been long since convinced that they are more

under Nothoscordum, following Thad Howard's impression of the genus. I

most of the yellow species, and while the assertion seems probable, I

wonder about the relationship between the multi-flowered species, such as

montevidense, ostenii, minarum, versus the much larger single-flowered

seem rather different, such as felipponei, hirtellum, and dialystemon
(felipponei in flower as I write). The latter group of yellow species

different than the first group of yellow species.

Wow! All subtlety aside and sarcasm running amuck. I haven't experienced
such a definitive consensus. What amazes me, even in more recent

more recent than 1963, is the waivering of S. American taxononomic status,

only among species, but to which of the many genera they are ascribed to.
Almost all of the "yellow Ipheions" have been ascribed to 4 or more

find dazzling and indicative of a taxonomic mess.

Back in the 1980s I saw Tristagma nivale in bloom, and to consider this

same as most "so-called" Ipheions is a great stretch. Of course, there

DNA studies on these that'll prove without a shadow of doubt that they are

actually Compositae ;-) (now, that's a bit of sarcasm).

Demonstrating the number of "hits" on a google search is rather

because you'll find just as many hits under whatever genus name you want

search under. Google searches are not a measure of what taxonomic opinion

valid, albeit, they are interesting.

Citing Traub as "definitive" carries a certain amount of risk and

Traub is rather famous (notorious, or infamous is more like it) for being

consummate splitter (even among splitters), as well as being

name as many species and taxonomic revisions to his claim as possible. As

student of the genus Allium myself, I do know that Traub is responsible

identifying quite a number of Mexican Allium, which still stand to this

But then again, I look towards consensus, and have heard sufficient

this group within Allium to carry forward (and judging from my own

growing 5 species out of 15-16 Mexican species with which to gauge)... yet
with other groups of plants, the status is much more muddied and much more
contentious.

Ah, but that's half the trick right there. What constitutes "all the
correctly recognized species in this genus [Ipheion] are now Tristagma" is

undefined variable and therefore rather meaningless. I'm still waiting

definitive enumeration of the South American bulbous genera, which seem to

float between various genera like fruit flies hovering between various

rotting fruit. One cannot be as certain as has been proposed.

Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States
antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5
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